Five things to watch

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We've already seen South Carolina take care of business. We've seen the crazy finishes (Ole Miss-Vandy and Rutgers-Fresno State). But things are just getting started this weekend. The big game of the weekend—Georgia at Clemson—features two teams with plenty of motivation to start 2013 with a bang.

They’ve been in this spot before. Been humbled and humiliated and harassed, and left for what everyone thought they were: the ultimate underachiever.

Now here we are again, nine months after the last statement game, and Clemson is forced to do the same thing all over again before anyone believes.

Believes in Clemson, believes in the ACC.

“We have no one to blame but ourselves,” says Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd.

That’s why the season opener Saturday night against Georgia—the same Georgia that was a tipped pass last year from winning the SEC and, of course, clobbering Notre Dame for the BCS title—is the biggest game in Clemson since the Tigers beat Nebraska to win the 1981 national championship.

Because even though Clemson ran LSU ragged in the Georgia Dome last New Year’s Eve; even though the Tigers dominated the game and needed a 4th-and-forever throw from Boyd on the game-winning drive, the overriding narrative is LSU had nothing to play for. Well, fifth-ranked Georgia has everything to play for.

If there’s one team still beaten up over how last year ended, it’s Georgia. If there’s one team that realizes just how close it was to winning it all—and let it slip away—it’s Georgia.

Motivation won’t be an issue for Georgia—defense will. That’s why Clemson, with Boyd leading a wide-open offense that might reach 90 or more plays, will find a way to back up the win over LSU. Even if it means outscoring Georgia on the last drive of the game.

It may not be as sexy as Appalachian State over Michigan, but it will be an FCS school over a defending champion of an FBS power conference.

Welcome to K-State’s worst nightmare, everyone. For years the Wildcats feasted on the little guys under coach Bill Snyder, and finally it’s payback time.

Two-time defending FCS national champion North Dakota State—with its 18 returning starters and senior quarterback who is 32-5—is going for its fourth straight win over an FBS team. The Bison, coached by former Nebraska defensive coordinator Craig Bohl, have beaten Kansas, Minnesota and Colorado State in the last three seasons.

Kansas State, with a new quarterback and two starters returning on defense, in trouble, everyone. Not only does Bohl know Snyder from his days in the Big 12, he’ll have the best quarterback and the most experienced team on the field.

In fact, if you look real close, you’ll see a lot of former K-State star QB Collin Klein in NDSU QB Brock Jensen. Similar body frame, similar style—and most important—similar ability to lead and get his team to play beyond its potential.

How wild of an upset would this be, you ask? K-State has won 20 straight season openers under Snyder and has never lost to an FCS team.

We all know about Notre Dame’s quarterback quandary: Everett Golson is out (academics); Tommy Rees is in.

Here’s what you don’t know: Rees has been much more athletic in fall camp, actually gaining positive yards and extending plays with his legs. Look, he’s not Golson, but anything extra he can provide for the offense—and force opponents to defend—is a plus.

Rees is a more polished thrower than Golson, and the passing game—if Rees stops forcing throws—will be a significant upgrade. The run game from the quarterback spot, especially with coach Brian Kelly adding more Pistol formation plays, would be a huge bonus if Rees picks up positive yards and protects the ball.

Former Nevada coach Chris Ault, the inventor of the Pistol, spent time with the ND staff this offseason with the intention of getting the quarterbacks more involved in the run game—and giving the offense another play-action threat.

“The principles of the shotgun offense still allow you to do some things from the home position,” Kelly said. “When you are in the shotgun, you limit some of the runs that you have. When the back is offset, I think you open up a lot more versatility.”

Two years removed from being forced to play Alabama again for the national title, we are left with this for LSU: a flood of players leaving early for the NFL Draft, too many offseason distractions, a completely rebuilt defense and zero preseason juice.

And guess what? This LSU team might just be better than the last two.

The names haven’t changed much on offense (that could be a good or bad thing, depending on the impact on new offensive coordinator Cam Cameron), and there are few recognizable names on defense.

But LSU coach Les Miles says “I like this team; I like it a lot.”

Here’s why: guys like DE Jermauria Rascoe, who Miles says is a “violent” force off the edge. Or Lamin Barrow, the next great LSU linebacker. Or the redshirt cornerback combination of Jalen Mills and Jalen Collins.

These are the guys who will be critical in LSU’s ability to remain a play away from beating Alabama (last year), or from playing for it all (in 2011). Not the more publicized new relationship between Cameron and QB Zach Mettenberger, who played better in the final month of 2012 and would have been more polished no matter who coached him this fall.

Mettenberger will play well Saturday vs. TCU. The key for LSU is how well its defense plays; if it can impose its will on the Horned Frogs like it did on so many teams the last two seasons.

The opponent, frankly, is meaningless. But watch Oregon this weekend against FCS Nicholls State.

Watch them run Chip Kelly’s Blur Ball offense: the tempo, the execution, the mentality when a team is down. All of these were built and cultivated under Kelly, a maniacal perfectionist when it came to running the offense.

Don’t automatically assume it will continue under new coach Mark Helfrich. There will be hiccups, but the bugs must be worked out this weekend before back-to-back non-conference games at Virginia and against Tennessee.